FiF Australia
Call for Archbishop Aspinall to 'consider resigning'
Jun 22, 2005

THE PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

From Hansard Tuesday 21st July, 2005

Bishop David Chislett

Mr SLIPPER (Fisher) (9.24 pm)

On 8 March this year, I spoke in glowing terms in the House about the consecration of Bishop David Chislett in Philadelphia as a bishop. Bishop Chislett has been for 10 years the Rector of All Saints, Wickham Terrace, in Brisbane. Last night in the adjournment debate, I spoke about the farewell mass for Bishop Chislett and the tremendous feeling and ceremony at that time. As a former altar server, parish councillor, synod person and deacon in the church, I am well aware of the importance of All Saints, Wickham Terrace and the very strong support that members of that parish have for the Catholic faith.

Honourable members may well ask how, in the space of some four months, we have moved from a situation where Bishop Chislett was going to minister to traditional Anglicans in the Anglican Church of Australia and also those in the Traditional Anglican Communion to the situation where there was a necessity to have a farewell, sad but glorious Pontifical High Mass and Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at All Saints, Wickham Terrace last Sunday.

I am happy to enlighten honourable members on the situation. On 25 February this year, Bishop Chislett, who in my view was one of the finest Anglican priests in the diocese of Brisbane, was suspended by the Archbishop of Brisbane on the basis of his consecration to the historic historic episcopate. In his letter to Bishop Chislett, Archbishop Aspinall said: In these circumstances I must ask you to show cause why I should not revoke your licence as Rector of the Parish of All Saints’, Brisbane, issued on 31 May 1995.

Bishop Chislett, quite appropriately, responded to Phillip Aspinall and pointed out that he was not a member of the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia and that the purpose of his episcopal ordination was, as clearly expressed on numerous occasions: ... to consecrate a bishop in the Church of God with the capacity to minister to certain members of the Anglican Communion and the Traditional Anglican Communion (of which the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia is part) ... Of course, in his consecration, bishops from both communions took part.

In his response to Archbishop Aspinall, Bishop Chislett also said: Historically in the Church of England, an incumbent’s being consecrated to the episcopate ‘out of range’-so to speak-of the canons regulating his ecclesial relationships, has not of itself been cause for revoking his licence, even in cases where the consecration has been of dubious validity. There is ample evidence to show that such incumbents have been regarded as having committed a canonical offence only if they act in a manner contrary to the terms of their incumbent’s licence.

In his correspondence with Archbishop Aspinall, Bishop Chislett made it clear that he did not intend to act contrary to the terms of his licence as Rector of All Saints, Wickham Terrace, in the diocese of Brisbane. He also said: These points taken together clearly demonstrate that there is insufficient cause to revoke my licence as Rector of the Parish of All Saints Wickham Terrace in the diocese of Brisbane.

The archbishop set up commissions of inquiry under the Benefices Avoidance Canon. The commissioners wrote to Bishop Chislett saying: The Enquiry is considering whether you have wilfully contravened or violated the provisions of the Constitution, Canons, Rules or Regulations of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane, Anglican Church of Australia by being consecrated a Bishop and being appointed a Suffragan Bishop in the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia and/or whether the circumstance of such consecration and appointment is ‘grave cause’ within the meaning of s 7 of the Benefices Avoidance Canon.

Bishop Chislett appeared before the commissioners. In their response, effectively the commissioners affirmed the honesty and integrity of Bishop Chislett. They confirmed that no constitution, canons, rules or regulations of the diocese were contravened by the consecration. But they still found that, by being consecrated, there was grave cause that warranted his removal as rector of All Saints.

We have a situation where a man was found innocent, but under the provisions of the Benefices Avoidance Canon, even though you are innocent, you are able to be sacked. I believe that it is important that the Supreme Court of Queensland investigate the Benefices Avoidance Canon. It is unjust and unfair.

The situation is that there is now religious persecution by Archbishop Aspinall of traditional Anglicans. I believe that Archbishop Aspinall has to seriously consider resigning as Archbishop of Brisbane, because he is simply unfit to hold that high office.

(Time expired)

The SPEAKER-Order! It being approximately 9.30 pm, the debate is interrupted. House adjourned at 9.30 pm